Camera Traps In Lankamala For Census Reveal Biodiversity In Sanctuary
Camera traps used during the tiger census in Lankamala Wildlife Sanctuary have recorded diverse wildlife, including bears, leopards, wild boars and peafowl, highlighting the need for habitat conservation.
A spin off of the latest tiger census carried out in Lankamala Wildlife Sanctuary is the camera traps revealing a rich habitat of diverse wildlife, including bears, leopards, mountain goats, and wild boars.
Forest officials detected increased presence of bears and leopards in the sanctuary spread across nearly 5.50 lakh hectares. Camera traps in forest stretches covering Siddavatam, Vanipenta, Badvel, and Porumamilla in Kadapa district, besides areas falling under Annamayya district, have recorded a variety of other species.
These include mountain goats, wild boars, jungle fowl, deer, wild cats, different varieties of lizards and large monitor lizards. Peafowl have been spotted in considerable numbers.
Wildlife enthusiast Dr. A. Rajaram of Siddavatam said the variety of animals being recorded reflected the ecological richness of the sanctuary. “The presence of different species, from bears and leopards to mountain goats, wild boars and peafowl, shows that the Lankamala sanctuary supports rich biodiversity. It is essential to protect these animals and conserve their natural habitats,” Rajaram underlined.
However, rising temperatures and the depletion of natural water sources have become a concern for wildlife in the Lankamala and Nallamala forest regions. With water availability declining, several wild animals are reportedly straying into nearby human habitations in search of drinking water.
In a recent incident at Vanipenta in Siddavatam region, a bear reportedly killed a woman who had gone to her agricultural field. Local residents acknowledge that wild animals are entering human habitations from water bodies in villages and farmland.
Conservation of the region's forests is important not only for wildlife but also for their medicinal plant wealth. Dr. P. Bhaskar Reddy of the Tirupati Government Ayurvedic Hospital said the Lankamala and Seshachalam forests are home to a wide variety of plants with medicinal properties.
“Apart from wildlife, these forests are valuable repositories of medicinal plants as well. Students and researchers from universities across the country are conducting extensive studies on the resources available in forest ecosystems,” Bhaskar Reddy revealed.
Conservationists stress that protecting forest habitats, preserving natural water sources, and preventing human-wildlife conflicts are essential for safeguarding the region's biodiversity.